Funding approved for TCI infirmary

MADISON – A 25-bed infirmary is being designed to meet the skilled nursing care needs of Taycheedah Correctional Institution’s aging female population.

On Wednesday, the State Building Commission approved $120,000 to design the $4.5 million infirmary that would provide nursing care for up to 24 hours for inmates who do not require hospitalization.

TCI does not have an infirmary and instead sends inmate/patients to Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun for care. DCI, a male prison, must clear out a unit for TCI’s female inmate/patients, which significantly reduces the number of beds for DCI inmate/patients.

There is no room within TCI’s existing health service unit for an infirmary so the new infirmary will assist both prisons with health care space issues, according to the Department of Corrections.

DOC projects a one-percent annual growth in its 22,000 system wide inmate population that is more than 45 years old. Currently, 17 percent of the prison system’s inmates are 50 years or older, four percent are 60 years or older.

While TCI’s total inmate population was unavailable Thursday from DOC sources, TCI has 55 inmates 55 years old or older and 15 that are 65 years or older.

In addition to an aging population, TCI has a “high volume of inmates in need of specialized medical care that will continue to increase,” according to the DOC.

TCI’s infirmary will be an addition to the existing health services unit.

It was not part of the settlement to a lawsuit inmates filed in 2007 alleging deficient medical and mental health facilities at TCI, Joy Staab, a DOC spokesperson, wrote in an email reply to a reporter’s questions.

Project funding was approved in the last state biennial budget.

Construction is scheduled to begin in August 2015 and be completed by September 2016.

New controls

The commission also approved a $1.54 million electronic door control project at DCI that will replace electrical switches and software used to support door controls which have been worn out due to heavy use.

Constant maintenance is needed to keep the door controls working, according to the DOC, as these electronic doors are used 24/7 to monitor and allow staff and inmate access to cells and housing units.

This project will also install fiber optic cabling as needed. The existing field wiring, door hardware, and intercom speakers will likely continue to be used, according to the DOC.